Work continues on planning Puyallup’s 125th Birthday celebrations. The 125th Anniversary logo has been finalized and shared with community partners. City social media accounts have been updated with the new logo, and the community has responded positively to the cheery, festive feel of the new graphics as well as the weekly “Throwback Thursday” historical photos posted on the City’s Facebook page. In March, a representative of Meeker Mansion and the PMSA Meeker Days Coordinator will meet to share ideas about historical elements that can be incorporated in this year’s Meeker Days Festival. Planning also continues for the August 19th celebration – the City’s official anniversary date.

Anniversary celebrations will begin to ramp up in April. A commemorative tree planting is scheduled at Bradley Lake Park on April 4th and the Farmers Market will kick off in mid-April, celebrating 125 years of Puyallup’s agricultural heritage. A flyer promoting these and other official anniversary events was created and is now being shared throughout the community. A website subpage has also been created to host up-to-date information on celebrations throughout the city: www.cityofpuyallup.org/Puyallup125. Citizens are already beginning to link to the new webpage, which has been publicized on social media and through the city’s recent e-newsletter. PCTV’s newest Rainier Country episode is scheduled to air for three months beginning in April, and one of the key pieces of the episode will revolve around the City’s 125 years of history and the upcoming celebrations.
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Wildwood Reservoir #1 is located in Wildwood Park and was constructed in 1955. This steel reservoir stands 35 feet tall and has a capacity of 500,000 gallons. The original coating on the interior and exterior of this reservoir is 60 years old and is well past its useful service life. This project includes sand blasting all surfaces to bare metal and recoating with a four step coating system. The painting contractor “Coatings Unlimited” has made steady progress and has finished coating the interior of the reservoir. Scaffolding has now been installed around the outside of the reservoir in preparation for work on the exterior.

This project also includes metal fabrication work that will bring the reservoir up to current code. A new modern vent system and 36 inch manway will be installed to allow proper ventilation and better access. The existing exterior ladder assembly will also be modified to meet current safety codes.

The annual Breakfast with Santa event was held on December 13th. This annual event showcased Santa Claus visiting with families as they entered the Pioneer Park Pavilion. Once each family was seated, individual tables were released to the buffet line, featuring eggs, bacon, sausage, French toast, fruit, and pastries. The event was catered by Renton Technical College. Once seated and eating, the renowned “Norselander” vocal group from Puyallup High School serenaded the crowd with classic holiday songs. Kids were encouraged to play a game for prizes, write a letter to Santa, and have their pictures taken with the lighted snowmen located throughout the building. Finally, each family was welcome to sit with Santa for a picture and tell him everything they’d like for Christmas. This fun, family event has become an annual tradition for many Puyallup families!

The holiday season officially started in Puyallup with the annual Lighted Santa Parade and Community Tree Lighting on December 5th. Included in the day-long festivities are the Holiday Market in the Pioneer Park Pavilion, the lighting of the Children’s Tree in the Park, and of course, pictures with Santa and Mrs. Claus! Little Chief Grayson Gochanour participated in the parade and was on hand to flip the switch at the tree lighting ceremony with the help of Mayor Knutsen and the Puyallup City Council. The Puyallup Police Department’s “Chief for a Day” Program celebrates the lives of children who have been diagnosed with a life-threatening or chronic medical condition. The intent is to provide these children with fun experiences they will never forget.

This wonderful community tradition, organized by the Puyallup Mainstreet Association, is always a great way to kick off the holiday season!
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Music, speakers, and celebration were on the docket on November 9th at the Pioneer Park Pavilion for the City of Puyallup’s Veterans Day program. This annual event commemorates all veterans. This year, Vietnam veterans were specifically honored in recognition of the 50th anniversary of the Vietnam War.

The Puyallup Veterans of Foreign Wars (VFW) Post 2224 (which organizes the event each year) asked Vietnam veteran and Puyallup City Councilman Steve Vermillion to speak at the event. The VFW selected Councilmember Vermillion, as the keynote speaker, based on his military record. Vermillion joined the Army in 1967 and spent 26 years as master army aviator, armor/air cavalry commander, and senior staff officer. Vermillion was inducted into the Dustoff Hall of Fame in 2013 for his contributions, including 1,450 combat missions and the evacuation of more than 2,200 patients. Dustoff pilots flew air ambulance helicopters that came into combat zones to pick up wounded soldiers. Councilmember Vermillion was also awarded a Silver Star and Distinguished Flying Cross, which recognizes valor.

The renowned U.S. Army I Corps Band, from Joint Base Lewis-McChord (JBLM), was also in attendance playing traditional, patriotic music. Puyallup’s Annual Veterans Day program is free and open to the public.
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Superheroes, ghosts, pixies, wizards, and witches took to the streets of downtown Puyallup on October 31st for the “Boo-allup in Puyallup” event. Along with many of our local businesses, City Hall employees passed out candy to little trick-or-treaters from 3:00 to 6:00 pm. This community event, sponsored by the Puyallup Mainstreet Association, helps spread a little Halloween happiness to tiny tots in a safe and secure environment.

After trick-or-treating the downtown area, families were invited to the 2nd Annual Cobweb Carnival at the Pioneer Park Pavilion from 3:30-7:30 pm. This event - proudly sponsored by the Puyallup Parks and Recreation Department and Puyallup Foursquare Church - offered carnival games, a photo booth, and bounce houses for FREE! Participating families were assured of a safe and fun-filled Halloween evening.

A program of music, celebration, and a salute to our military veterans is on tap for Puyallup’s annual Veterans Day program in Pioneer Park Pavilion on Sunday, November 9th, at 1:00 pm. There is no charge to attend this event and there is ample free parking and indoor seating.

Headlining the program is a concert of patriotic and traditional music by the renowned U.S. Army I Corps Band (Joint Base Lewis McChord), whose members are selected from the most talented musicians in the Army.

This year’s program, the 50th Anniversary of the Vietnam War, pays special recognition to the service of our Vietnam War veterans. 2014 is the first of a five-year national commemoration program conducted by the Secretary of Defense and the armed forces.
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The City of Puyallup entered the Puget Sound Energy (PSE) Green Power Challenge program earlier this year. The goal is to increase the number of Puyallup PSE customers (residential and commercial) who choose green power alternatives as part of their monthly utility bill. If the city reaches our 1,075 goal then it will earn $20,000 for solar power projects in the city. As of August 31st, the city is making great progress towards our goal of earning $20,000 from Puget Sound Energy. This can be used in a variety of ways; to enhance our existing solar power array at the Pavilion and/or initiate other solar-related projects in the City. Visit the City’s Green Power Challenge page to learn more about Puyallup’s progress in meeting its challenge goals. You can also read more about green energy and sign up for PSE’s Green Power Program online.

Also, a big thanks to the city’s own Green Power Heroes … Chris Beale and Joy Rodriguez for their help and great promotional photos!
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On September 13th, 253 volunteers from 6 local Wards of the Latter Day Saints (LDS) Church, converged on Woodbine Cemetery to offer 3 hours of manual labor as their Annual Day of Service project. All ages participated and provided unbelievable and unselfish service to beautify and improve the Cemetery’s appearance. Team leaders from the Fruitland, Manorwood, Pioneer Valley, Ridgecrest, Silver Creek, and South Hill Wards provided leadership and direction as church members trimmed sod from overgrown grave markers, used weed eaters to trim around headstones, hauled brush, trimmed hedges, disposed of debris, and performed general landscape cleanup tasks. Highlights of this well-orchestrated volunteer effort was the complete renovation of the Baby Land monument and the entrance gate located on 7th Street SW. Another success was their work on the “Find a Grave” project. Due to the pictures taken by the volunteers, all the graves in the cemetery have now been photographed, and the Find a Grave project for Woodbine Cemetery is now complete. The group’s efforts also resulted in the removal of 18 yards of sod trimmings, 15 yards of brush removal, and beautification of approximately 2,500 headstones and grave markers.
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The Puyallup City Council and staff members have stepped up to personally raise awareness and funds for the ALS Association. On September 4th they participated in the ALS Ice Bucket Challenge and have nominated the following City Councils to support this good cause: City of Sumner, City of Milton, City of Buckley, City of Fife, City of Bonney Lake, City of Lakewood, City of Algona, and City of Orting. Councilmember Heather Shadko, who organized the effort said, “ALS is a terrible disease and I'm really happy the Ice Bucket challenge has raised much-needed funds for research for a cure. Challenging the other cities was a fun way for our community to interact with our neighbors and I hope they send us photos when they take the challenge!” Check out the video of Puyallup’s Council and staff taking the challenge on our Facebook page at: https://www.facebook.com/PuyallupCity.

Members of the Puyallup Police Department made a trip to little chief Grayson’s house on August 18th to deliver toys and electronics for Chief Grayson and his little brother William. They also brought some special gifts for Grayson’s mother and father, Redonna and Greg. On August 21st, 34 “little chiefs” and their families from across the state met at the Showare Center in Kent for breakfast prior to being whisked away to the Washington State Criminal Justice Training Academy in Burien in a police motorcade. Once at the academy, the chiefs were sworn in during an official ceremony. After the ceremony, the chiefs were treated to lunch, participated in interactive police displays, and played games. It was a fantastic day for Grayson and his family!

A special thanks to the Puyallup Police Association, the Washington State Fair, Olympic Eagle Distributing, and all of the City of Puyallup employees who participated in the fundraising BBQ for being generous partners in this event. Records Supervisor Nichole McNiven coordinated this year’s event and made sure everything went off without a hitch.

Captain Scott Engle represented the Puyallup Police Department in his role as an Incident Commander for the Pierce County Department of Emergency Management’s Type III Incident Command Team in Okanagan, to support the efforts battling the Carlton Complex Fire. Captain Engle’s team assisted in the operation of the Emergency Operations Center. After their six-day deployment, they effectively turned the event back over to the local jurisdiction. Captain Engle’s team received great reviews for organizing the efforts to manage the myriad of issues surrounding the fire, as well as the impacts on the local communities.

Puyallup’s Summer Day Camp is well under way. This year’s camp theme is “Let’s Get Moving!” Campers learn songs, participate in arts and crafts, make new friends, and go on weekly field trips. Each week highlights a different theme, with something offered for everyone! Camp participation numbers are up considerably this year with up to 100 kids registered and a waiting list for several popular trip weeks. Trips this summer include a Seattle Mariner’s baseball game, swimming at the Puyallup High School pool, and Wild Waves Water Park.

During last week’s “Let’s Get Famous” theme, campers were taken to the Old Country Buffet Restaurant “celebrity-style” - transported in a stretch limousine. Campers also practiced their skills for the annual Camp Talent Show. The talent show and a BBQ lunch, to which the camper’s parents were invited, ended this awesome week on a high note!

The 2014 Elodea Management in-water work began on June 16th near the 12th Ave SW Bridge, by Clarks Creek Park South. The contractor has continued with a steady rate of progress and both Diver Assisted Suction Harvesting (DASH) boats are in operation. Work will continue in a downstream direction toward the completion point at the 56th Street E Bridge in Pierce County. As of July 7th, 6,460 linear feet of a total 15,570 linear feet had been cleared. A total of 7,325 50-lb. bags of weed have been removed from the stream thus far.

The aged play structure in Pioneer Park was removed last week and installation of the new structure will start the first week in July. Given the condition of the old equipment, including some recent damage, leaving the structure in place any longer than necessary would not be in the best interest of park patrons. Thank you for your patience as we improve this central-park feature!
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Great news for those who utilize the Puyallup Riverwalk Trail! On Saturday, May 31st, a ribbon cutting ceremony took place to celebrate completion of a short but significant connection between Shaw Road and the Meeker Trailhead of the Foothills Trail. This section of the Riverwalk Trail is Phase IV of the trail development and is a ¼ mile stretch beginning at the corner of Pioneer Way East & Shaw Road and ending at the corner of 33rd Street SE where it connects with the existing Foothills Trail. The ceremony was well attended on this bright sunny day and this latest piece of the trail (Riverwalk Trail-Phase IV) was dedicated as the JEB III Link, named after Puyallup resident and trail enthusiast, John Ernest Berry III.

John Ernest Berry, or Jeb as he is known by his friends, is a Puyallup resident who has been a strong advocate for the connection from the year 2008 when it first appeared on the Piece County Regional Trail System map. Jeb suffered severe brain damage in July 1986 when his bike was struck by an automobile in a disastrous collision. When he awoke from a 6 ½ week coma he was unable to speak or walk. He was sent to Puyallup’s Good Samaritan Hospital for rehabilitation and stayed because he loved Puyallup. Now at age 49, Jeb lives independently, and remains a strong trail advocate. Jeb is a member of the Friends of the Riverwalk and has been an active member of the Foothills Coalition Courtesy patrol for over a decade. Jeb advocates at the local, state, and regional level for trail access and safe connected trails.

The Annual Puyallup Memorial Day Concert and Remembrance was held Monday, May 26th at the Pioneer Park Pavilion. The event continues to grow in popularity, and this year all seats were filled to capacity and there was standing room only. Over 500 community members were in attendance to honor the men and women who died while serving in the country's armed forces. The event was coordinated by the Puyallup Valley VFW Post 2224. The audience was entertained by the Pierce College Concert Band performing a collection of military themed numbers as well as several stirring numbers by the Clan Gordon Pipe Band. Dignitaries on hand to welcome the audience included Congressman Denny Heck, Mayor John Knutsen, Jack Dauer, Commander of the Puyallup VFW and the host of the event Jack Taylor also from the VFW Post 2224. A memorial roll call was announced with the presentation of wreaths donated by many local organizations including the City of Puyallup and the Puyallup Police Department. A rifle salute was performed by members of the local VFW Legion Post and taps by dual buglers marked a fitting conclusion to the tribute. A special thanks goes out to all of the sponsors and organizations that helped put this program together:

The Puyallup Parks and Recreation Department will have a ribbon cutting celebration for the completion of the Riverwalk Trail Phase IV – JEB III Link on Saturday, May 31st at 11:00 am. This section of trail will complete the Puyallup Riverwalk Trail from the corner of Shaw Road and Pioneer Avenue East to the western trailhead of the existing Foothills Trail. This project is of high value to trail users in the community, but it did not come with a high price tag. The trail segment came in significantly under budget and was largely funded by Washington State Department of Commerce grant funds.

The ribbon cutting event will be held at the Eastern end of the link, just off of East Pioneer on the corner of 8th Avenue SE and 33rd St SE. Parking is available at the Foothills Trailhead on 80th St E. Pierce County Television (PCTV) will be on site at the Ribbon Cutting, filming for a Pierce County News Story.

In conjunction with the City’s Arbor Day celebration on April 19th, the City of Puyallup was also awarded the official designation as a Tree City USA. Mayor John Knutsen and Deputy Mayor John Hopkins, along with City Councilmembers Julie Door and Heather Shadko, were on hand to receive a Tree City USA plaque from Ben Thompson of the State Department of Natural Resources. Development Services staff, led by Associate Planner Chris Beale, organized this event. After the presentation, community volunteers helped plant new street trees along West Stewart and in other locations in downtown Puyallup. The tree planting was co-sponsored by Puget Sound Energy (PSE), and local PSE employees also volunteered with the planting. Because an Arbor Day commemoration is one of the requirements for a Tree City USA, the City anticipates hosting similar events in future years.

The Daffodil Festival celebrated its 81st year in 2014, culminating with the Daffodil Parade as the highlight of the festivities. The parade traveled through the four cities of Tacoma, Puyallup, Sumner, and Orting and included over 170 entries, including floats, bands, marching and mounted units, and Stryker vehicles. Parade floats were decorated with thousands of fresh-cut daffodils. This year’s theme was “Ready, Set, Grow!” Reflecting the theme, regional gardening expert Ciscoe Morris served as the parade’s Grand Marshal, and Puyallup seed purveyor and TV host Ed Hume was the Community Grand Marshal. The Daffodil Festival – and its iconic yellow flower – celebrates youth, service to community, and the approach of spring.

Mayor John Knutsen, Deputy Mayor John Hopkins, and Councilmembers Julie Door, Heather Shadko, Tom Swanson, and Steve Vermillion participated in this year’s parade, showcasing the City’s historic mini-pumper fire engine. The mini fire truck is fully-functional and was designed to get into spaces at the Fair inaccessible to full-size fire engines. The equipment was on loan to an Oregon museum for several years, and was recently returned to the City.

Spring is in the air! It’s the season of new beginnings; the perfect time to refresh and clean up our homes, yards, and parks. Each spring, Puyallup residents have the opportunity to reduce clutter and dispose of unwanted household materials at no extra cost. Residents can get rid of extra garbage, yard waste, sensitive documents, and one major appliance during our spring cleanup events.

The City will accept sensitive papers for shredding and electronics for recycling at the Cornforth Campbell Parking Lot, between 10:00 am and 3:00 pm. There is a nominal fee for some types of electronics. Details are on our website.

Parks help build stronger communities and bring enjoyment to people of all ages. Join us at the Parks Appreciation Day eventfor a spring cleaning of our local parks. To participate, visit the event page.

The Pierce Conservation District has chosen the City of Puyallup as its “2013 Municipal Partner of the Year.” This selection is based on the City’s “dedication to managing polluted water runoff in creative ways by creating green streets and promoting your residential rain garden program”.

The Stormwater Management Section has constructed several porous asphalt installations including 8th Ave NW, 6th Ave NW, and Wilson Drive NW, with five additional sites planned for 2014. In addition, staff continues to expand Puyallup’s Rain Garden Program in many local neighborhoods, encouraging residential homeowners to install rain gardens, permeable pavements, and rain barrels through this cost-share opportunity.

The Economic Development Board (EDB) of Tacoma-Pierce County held its annual meeting in Tacoma on February 28th. Deputy Mayor John Hopkins participated in this well-attended community meeting, along with City Manager Bill McDonald and Development Services Director Tom Utterback. At each year’s annual meeting, the EDB unveils its “Excellent 10” list, showcasing ten noteworthy economic development projects of the prior year. This year, Western Institutional Review Board (WIRB) and TriWest Healthcare Alliance were both featured on the Excellent 10 list. These two companies established major new offices in the Benaroya Business & Technology Center in late 2013.
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A new traffic signal is being installed near the westerly city limits on Valley Avenue NW and 27th Ave Ct NW as a part of the proposed Port 167 Distribution Center development project. The signal is scheduled to go active during the last week of February.

The signal will include a “flashing yellow arrow” signal display instead of the traditional “green ball” signal to provide safer, more efficient left turns for motorists along Valley Ave NW. A “flashing yellow arrow” means that left turns are allowed, but drivers must yield to oncoming traffic and pedestrians.

Studies by the Federal Highway Administration suggest flashing yellow arrows increase safety because they are more effective at getting drivers to yield to oncoming traffic. They have been installed at several locations in this region including Pierce County, Federal Way, Everett, Vancouver, Bellevue, and Redmond.

In January, the Puyallup Public Library welcomed the Tacoma Children’s Museum program called “Play to Learn,” for children under the age of six and their caregivers. The Children’s Museum launched the program in the fall of 2008 and is now in fifteen sites in Pierce County. Play to Learn is a free, drop-in program, and no registration is required. The expectation is that adults and children will be fully interacting together through play, art, science, and music to help children gain the skills and knowledge they need to transition to kindergarten.

Play to Learn takes place at the Puyallup Public Library on Tuesday mornings from 10:00 to 11:30 am through March 25th.

The Puyallup River Outreach Program (PROP) held their 1st Annual Puyallup River Film Festival on December 5th at the University of Washington - Tacoma. This program is funded, in part, by the Russell Family Foundation. The festival drew an audience from government agencies, non-profit organizations, local schools, the Festival’s sponsors, The Russell Family Foundation, and others interested in the Puyallup River Watershed.

Films were submitted by a wide range of filmmakers, including: Pierce County’s Office of Sustainability, Lincoln High School’s Lincoln Center, the Northwest Indian Fisheries Commission, Friends of Fennel Creek, and Washington State University’s Puyallup Research and Extension Center. Each audience member received a ballot and picked the best submissions in four categories: (1) high school student, (2) college student, (3) government agency, and (4) non-profit organization. In addition, the audience selected a Grand Prize winner from across all four categories. Puyallup’s submission of their Riparian Planting Program won in the government agency category! Joy Rodriguez, Associate Stormwater Engineer, submitted the film that was created with PCTV through our annual PCTV contract. Our hats go off to Joy for the effort she put forth to promote the City and its successful programs. Here’s a link to the video: Streamside Planting video in 2013

Members of the Puyallup Police Department and the City participated with the 2nd Brigade 2nd Infantry Division’s Brigade Run on the 18th of December at Joint Base Lewis-McChord. This run was approximately four miles and was done in a formation that included nearly 4,500 soldiers. Chief Bryan Jeter and Deputy Chief Dave McDonald represented PPD, while Deputy City Attorney Steve Kirkelie and Development Services Director Tom Utterback represented their respective departments in the City.

The Puyallup Police Department will once again be participating in the “Chief for a Day” Program. Chief for a Day is about celebrating the lives of children who have been diagnosed with a life-threatening or chronic medical condition. The intent is to provide these children with a day of fun they will never forget and to become a part of their lives. The formal Chief for a Day event will be in August.

PPD’s next little chief will be Grayson Gochanour. Grayson is 7 years old and was diagnosed at the age of 3 ½ with Autism. He loves everything police-related and his dream is to grow up to be a police officer. He currently attends school at Stewart Elementary in their WRAP program. Grayson’s little brother William was also diagnosed with a form of Autism.

Throughout the coming year, the PPD will be bringing the Gochanour’s into the PPD Family to celebrate birthdays, holidays, and department events with them. If you are interested in contributing to or helping with PPD’s Chief for a Day efforts, please contact Records Supervisor Nichole McNiven.

Puyallup’s annual Veteran’s Day Program was held on November 11th, at the Pioneer Park Pavilion, with over 550 people in attendance. The Veteran’s Day program is an annual celebration of music and traditional patriotic ceremony that salutes the Armed Forces and celebrates Veterans from all branches of the military. Music was provided by members of the I Corps Army Band, JBLM Jazz Combo, Puyallup Tapestry Singers, and the Kalles Junior High School choir.

Following the program, attendees were invited to a free exhibit of the art of Chris Hopkins, who is a nationally renowned, award-winning artist and an official artist of the Air Force. His work was on display in the lobby of City Hall and Gallery 3. Original paintings and sketches of Tuskegee Airmen, mythological characters, and other works were included. A special thanks to the staff of Gallery 3 for their coordination of the Artist’s exhibit. This event is sponsored by VFW Post 2224, American Legion Post 67, Fleet Reserve Association 104, and the City of Puyallup.
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On October 19th, the Puyallup Public Library celebrated its 100th anniversary with an informal community open house. This free public event was planned and hosted by the Puyallup Library Foundation. The highlight of the event was a lecture and book signing by author and popular cartoonist Stephan Pastis, best known for his comic strip “Pearls Before Swine.” The lecture was attended by over 275 people and included a lively question and answer session. Several local authors were also on hand to sign books, and representatives from the Puyallup Historical Society and the South Hill Historical Society were available to answer questions about Puyallup history. The Library’s History Room was also opened for the evening. As part of the evening’s festivities, patrons were allowed to climb the clock tower of the Library for a small donation. Thomas Britanyek, the clock chime expert who installed the library’s chimes, was on hand to give tours and answer questions.

The Puyallup Public Library celebrated its first annual Festival of Books on September 27-28. In partnership with Fantasium Comics and Valley Arts United, the library hosted a mini-comic convention, the Fandom Dance, an art-inspired poetry contest, and a guest lecture by the acclaimed author Susan Cooper—known for her “Dark is Rising” series and most recent book Ghost Hawk. This first annual author lecture series was named in honor of Jim Taylor, a revered English teacher in the Puyallup School District. Other guest speakers and performers included fantasy author Ursula K. LeGuin, storyteller Will Hornyack, and fiddle player Sarah Corner.

The Puyallup Police Department held their first annual “Run From the Cops” 5K fun run event on September 28th, in partnership with Pierce College, Special Olympics of Washington, Washington’s Most Wanted, and South Sound Running.

In spite of the inclement weather, approximately 100 runners braved the elements to “Run From The Cops”. This unique event started at 10:00 pm and encouraged the participants to wear costumes. Those who did not complete the course in 30 minutes were “arrested” and had to raise “bail” in the form of a donation to Special Olympics. Runners who thought they could “Beat the Chief” in the race, had the opportunity to donate an additional $10 to enter for a chance to win an extra prize. The first three runners who beat the Chief’s time were offered a pair of running shoes from South Sound Running. Altogether, the event raised approximately $7,300 for Special Olympics of Washington. All involved are looking to make this an annual event, although organizers are planning for June next year to avoid the inclement weather!

The City has two new public information brochures to provide citizens with background on historic preservation in Puyallup. Funded by a State grant, these attractive hand-outs were formatted by a local graphics designer in a historic motif, and contain many photographs from our community’s past.

One brochure gives a general description of the City’s historic preservation program, the other outlines incentives for renovating local historic buildings. The Design Review & Historic Preservation Board, which administers the City’s historic preservation program, received these brochures at their September 5th meeting. These hand-outs are now available at the City Hall permit counter, plus they are being distributed to civic organizations such as the Main Street Association and the Puyallup-Sumner Chamber of Commerce. They can also be viewed on the Historic Preservation webpage.

The 2013 summer concert series finished on August 22nd with a wonderful performance by Larry Jones (Singing Comedian Impressionist), and the band Heart by Heart, featuring two members of the original group Heart. The concert season finale had more than 2,500 enthusiastic concert-goers in attendance. The entire summer concert series was once again a great success and many citizens expressed their thanks to recreation staff for another outstanding summer of family entertainment.

· The single largest development project currently under construction in Puyallup is the “Port 167” industrial park, located on the south side of Valley Avenue NW, in the vicinity of the Valley Avenue bridge into Fife. Approved earlier this year, this project will eventually total approximately 650,000 square feet of new industrial space, in two large buildings, on a 33.6 acre site. With construction permits issued earlier this summer, major site work is now underway, with vertical building construction to begin later this year. The foundation for the first of these structures, prior to pouring of the concrete slab, is evident in the upper part of this photo. Trammell Crow Company, a national corporation with regional offices in Seattle, is the developer of this project.

· City planner Katie Baker was recently elected to a regional professional post. The state chapter of the American Planning Association has a “Young Planners Group”, which exists to encourage professional development and networking among land use planners under age 40. Earlier this month, Katie was elected, through a regional voting process, as the Pierce County representative to this group.

Captain Scott Engle was recently interviewed by the Puget Sound Business Examiner. The Business Examiner is doing a story on organizations that are “doing it right” in terms of the the use of social media, and they have chosen to feature the Puyallup Police Department as an example of an organization using social media well. Captain Engle fielded questions about what we use social media for, how it has changed department practices, and what recommendations we would make to others. The article will be featured in the August 19th issue.

Organization-wide, the City Manager’s office has coordinated a social media users group for departments to share their experiences and develop best practices. Members include the PD, Library, and Parks & Recreation.

Development Services staff continue assisting Western Institutional Review Board (WIRB) with their pending relocation to Puyallup. The research company handles protocols involving human testing for pharmaceuticals and related industries and is moving over 200 employees from Thurston County to the Benaroya Business & Technology Center on 39th Avenue SE. This represents one of the largest employers to move to Puyallup in the last several years. This week, City staff review was completed on recent building permit submittals for the company’s proposed extensive remodel of about 45,000 square feet of existing office space at the Benaroya site. On July 25th, Development Services Director Tom Utterback joined Tacoma-Pierce County Economic Development Board staff and the Puyallup-Sumner Chamber of Commerce in hosting a bus tour for WIRB employees to the Benaroya campus and throughout the surrounding community. WIRB was also welcomed to Puyallup by Mayor Rick Hansen, at the beginning of the tour. Tenant improvement construction work is expected to begin soon on WIRB’s South Hill office space, with relocation to Puyallup slated for December 2013.
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The Elodea management program is designed to reduce the amount of elodea growth in Clarks Creek and limit its impacts on the citizens who live on the creek. As part of those efforts, this year’s activities included Diver Assisted Suction Harvesting, or DASH. This process uses divers to hand pull the weed from the creek and remove them completely – instead of cutting them as in past years. To date, over 7,000 50 pound bags of Elodea have been collected and removed from the creek. The plant material collected is being spread on local fields as mulch. Given the progress to date, it is highly likely that we will be continuing with the DASH method throughout the fish window (August 8th). Staff is cautiously optimistic that the contractor has the potential to clear the entire creek of Elodea by the end of the fish window.

On June 22nd, a 5K fun run and a 1-mile “Walk a Mile in Her Shoes” event were held, in conjunction with the Meeker Days Festival. This first ever Walk a Mile event in Puyallup, was a way to create an opportunity to talk about domestic violence and sexual assault and to raise awareness of domestic violence. The weather was perfect for the event, with 115 people registered for the run and walk. Men who walked in the event wore women’s shoes, ranging from 5-inch heels to lower, safer styles. It was reported that nobody participating in high heels twisted an ankle!

Puyallup Recreation hosted the Western Washington sectional competition of the National Major League Baseball Pitch, Hit, and Run contest on June 1st. Kids ages 7-14 who won at local competitions, traveled from as far as East Wenatchee to compete for a chance to move on to the regional competition at Safeco Field. Competitors who qualify after the Regional competition at Safeco field will have the opportunity to move on to the final competition to be held at the All Star Game in New York City. The event was blessed with sunny weather, energetic kids, and enthusiastic volunteers who helped make the event a successful one. The past two years, Western Washington has produced national champions. Some very high scores were posted and hopefully some of our participants will qualify to move forward in the competition.

The 2013 Memorial Day Observation was held on May 27th at the Pioneer Park Pavilion with over 600 people in attendance. This year’s honored guest was Edward J. Saylor, Lt Col, USAF, Retired, B-25 Crewmember and one of the last four surviving “Doolittle Raiders” over Tokyo. Saylor and crew members were awarded The Distinguished Flying Cross for their extraordinary heroism. The Clan Gordon Pipe Band and Tapestry Singers provided the entertainment for this annual event.

The 2nd St NE/3rd ST SE railroad crossing repair was completed over the weekend of May 11th. This is the second of six railroad crossings scheduled for repair in a partnership between BNSF and the City. BNSF is providing all rail repair, excavation, and safety coverage while the City is contracting for all concrete approach work for the crossings. The remaining projects will be moving to daytime work during the weekdays. Based on the recent bids received for the 5th St NW and 5th St SE crossings, the City will realize a significant savings by moving the projects away from weekend work. The current schedule for the remaining projects is:

The newly-opened 53,000 square foot, Group Health Medical facility in Puyallup, is the first project in the country to achieve certification under the new Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) rating system, designed specifically for healthcare facilities. LEED for Healthcare (LEED-HC) was developed by the U.S. Green Building Council to reward the highest-performing and healthiest medical buildings.“Earning the first-ever LEED for Healthcare Gold certification validates our commitment to enhancing the environmental sustainability of Group Health facilities,” said Bill Biggs, Vice President, Administrative Services at Group Health. “The health of our patients, employees and communities depends on a healthy environment and we are committed to conducting our operations in an environmentally sensitive manner,” he added. For more information on this LEED Gold facility, see the recent press release.

The City’s Communications Center has now moved into its new location. The move from the old facility located on the Pierce College campus, into the remodeled space at the Puyallup Corporate Yards facility, was completed after months of planning, construction, and testing of equipment. Months of coordination was required to ensure that this critical public safety communications facility experienced no disruption of service to the public or police agencies served during the move. A formal open house is being planned in the near future for city officials, media, and partner agencies.

For the past three years, participants in the Puyallup-Sumner Chamber of Commerce's annual Leadership Institute have spearheaded a peanut butter drive benefiting local families in need. This year, they have broken from the peanut butter tradition to help Puyallup and Sumner’s most vulnerable families in a different way. They are launching “Hearts for Hygiene” starting on Thursday, April 18th through Friday, May 10th. The goal of the drive is to collect donated hygiene items to assist needy individuals and families in Puyallup and Sumner.

The Leadership Institute members met with food bank staff recently and learned that they are in short supply of necessities such as shampoo, soap, toothpaste, and toilet paper. While many people seeking public assistance receive food stamps through the Department of Social and Health Services, hygiene items cannot be purchased with food stamps. This creates an important need that has a direct impact on the dignity of needy families and the ability for children to feel comfortable and confident while they are attending school.

8th Ave NW “Green Street” Grand Opening - Ribbon Cutting EventPuyallup’s first Green Stormwater Infrastructure (GSI) or “Green Street” was completed on March 16th. This effort was made possible thanks to the support of over 90 volunteers who installed over 2,500 plants in Puyallup’s largest rain garden planting event ever. A ribbon-cutting ceremony was also hosted during the event by the Puyallup Chamber of Commerce as Mayor Hansen and Puyallup City Council members proclaimed the 8th Ave NW project as Puyallup's first Green Street. Thank you to all who joined us and to the volunteers for making this such a successful event.

Want to see the transformation this street underwent? Look through the project photographs to see details from the construction phase as well as before and after photographs of the site. Intrigued by the positive environmental impact this project made? Visit our Rain Garden Programweb page for information on how to participate in our cost-share program to install your own GSI at your Puyallup home.

The Puyallup Police Explorer Post recently participated in the Federal Way Challenge. The Federal Way Challenge is a mock-scenes competition based on actual patrol officer events including active shooter, warrant service, building searches, building searches with K-9 assistance, handgun orientation, defense tactics, physical agility, and sniper challenge. The Explorer Post did well and Explorer Connor Drumm earned a first place award for the sniper challenge. The Explorers learned the importance of communication, teamwork, and problem solving, while having fun. Thank you to Explorer Post Advisors Chad Pearson and Jake Thompson for coaching and supervising the Explorers during the competition.

The City of Puyallup’s Water Division began working with the Washington State Department of Ecology twelve years ago to acquire a 1,000 gallon per minute (gpm) water right for a new well (#18) to be located near an established well (#17) at the Puyallup Recreation Center. Although, the additional water will not be needed until 2030, the city feels it is important to acquire the right sooner rather than later.

Last October, then Interim City Manager Bill McDonald received a letter from the Department of Ecology proposing that the City pursue a coordinated effort between the Cities of Puyallup, Fife, and Sumner, to secure additional water rights for future growth. City Staff has now had several meetings with staff from Fife and Sumner to establish the groundwork for a coordinated and integrated approach to acquiring water rights. In the near future, Council will be asked to consider an inter-local agreement between the three cities. As the coordinated approach with our two neighboring cities moves forward, staff continues to pursue the original water right with Ecology.

The City of Puyallup achieved greater than expected savings on January 29th by refinancing portions of three prior bond issues. As part of the refinancing process, the City sold a total of $13.5 million of bonds to replace existing debt. The bond sale resulted in a savings of $815,000 over the next 13 years. While the City set a 3% minimum savings goal, the actual savings achieved by the refinancing was roughly 5.5% due to the favorable bond market.

The City’s solid “AA” rating on the utility revenue bonds and “AA-” rating on the general obligation bonds, both from Standard & Poor’s (S&P), also contributed to the success of the sale. S&P cited the City utility’s strong financial metrics, minimal future financing needs, good management, and the City’s financial performance as factors supporting the strong ratings.
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Nine members of the Puyallup Police Explorers endured freezing temperatures at the Yakima Training Center to attend the winter Explorer Academy, December 26-31. The explorers received training in police field operations and mock scenes, as wells as drill and ceremony. All of the Explorers that attended graduated from the program, after completing the rigorous training.

The Puyallup Police Department’s Holiday DUI Emphasis netted 47 DUIs between Thanksgiving and New Years. During the emphasis patrols, officers arrested 37 impaired drivers. Additionally, 10 drivers were arrested during the 13 extra shifts scheduled around those dates and times that impaired drivers were most likely to be on the road. The additional shifts were paid for by utilizing the department’s DUI Cost Recovery account, which is comprised of fees levied against persons convicted of Driving Under the Influence. This additional fee pays for the cost incurred when a person is convicted of a DUI.

“Buddy the Elf” was the theme of this year’s Santa Breakfast, with 338 adults and excited children in attendance. The character “Buddy” did a wonderful job entertaining the crowd and the “Holly Buddy Band” set the stage by playing the music from the hit movie “Elf”. The highlight, as always, was Santa himself! The Recreation Division would like to thank the many sponsors who contributed donations to help carry out this annual event. In addition, nine high school students volunteered their time at the event; the students did an awesome job and earned community service hours. This was the 9th year for the Santa Breakfast, and the most successful yet!

The road that winds through Puyallup’s Woodbine Cemetery was bumper to bumper the evening of December 6th, as people turned out in the cold to attend a candlelight vigil and dedicate the newly installed “Angel of Hope” statue. The bronze angel statue is a dedicated place for parents to grieve and heal and symbolizes protection of the children buried there. The memorial project started following the deaths of Charlie and Braden Powell earlier this year, but their grandfather Chuck Cox reiterated at the dedication that the angel is for all families who have lost children. Community donations through Tacoma-Pierce County Crime Stoppers made the memorial possible; bricks around the statue will be available for inscription with the names of children who have passed. The statue is based on writer Richard Paul Evans’ novella “The Christmas Box,” about how strangers learned the value of love following a child’s death. Paul Evans attended and spoke at the dedication on Thursday. There are more than 100 Angel of Hope statues around the world. A candlelight vigil will now be held every year on December 6th, 7:00 pm at Woodbine Cemetery.

The Puyallup Main Street Association hosted a ribbon cutting event, opening the 39th Ave SE project to traffic on November 20th. Representative Hans Zeiger, Mayor Rick Hansen, Deputy Mayor John Knutsen, Councilmembers Kent Boyle and Steve Vermillion, and Chamber of Commerce President Shelly Schlumpf were all on hand for the ceremony.

After years of planning, right of way acquisition, design, and construction, the new extension of 39th Ave SE is opening in time for holiday shopping season traffic. A ribbon cutting event is scheduled next week to celebrate this City of Puyallup milestone, which was completed with the assistance of Washington State LIFT Grant funding.

While the road will be open and construction will be minimal during the holiday shopping season, final details of the project will finish up in Spring 2013. Additional work to be done includes installation of new traffic signals (currently on order), the final lift of asphalt, and the signalization of the intersection at 39th Ave SE and 5th Street SE. After the new traffic signal is delivered and installed, the road will also be re-striped in a 5-lane configuration (with two lanes traveling in either direction as well as a center turn lane). There will be periodic and temporary closures after the holiday season while these items are completed.
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On October 27th, more than 50 volunteers braved the wet weather to plant 300 native shrubs and trees and install 200 feet of split rail fencing in Clarks Creek Park. This 100% grant-funded Riparian Restoration and Porous Maintenance Road project is designed to support water quality improvements in Clarks Creek by reducing untreated stormwater runoff as well as restoring the riparian area. The asphalt maintenance road that runs parallel to the creek (just south of 7th Ave SW), is being removed, repositioned away from the creek, and replaced with permeable pavement. The riparian area between the new porous maintenance road and the creek is being restored with amended soils and native shrubs and trees that will also provide much needed shade to the creek to help reduce water temperatures and discourage elodea growth.

The Puyallup Fair is a major undertaking for many city departments, including the Police Department. As evidence that our officers take the long hours in stride, our Motor Officers take a few moments to flash a smile with this family who attended the Fair and requested a photo with the officers.